Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
PROVO — In most years, when BYU football players walk out into a visiting stadium, they’re greeted by a significant roar of a traveling fan base that is fairly unique to college football.
Say what you will about Cougar fans, but in large part because of their affiliation with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and an alumni base that spans states and nations, the Cougars have enjoyed a significant road draw.
Except Monday night, when BYU’s 55-3 win at Navy was seen by only a handful of stadium workers and U.S. Naval Academy employees — as well as a nationally televised, primetime audience on ESPN — after the Maryland state government declined to open up crowds at Navy Marine Corps. Memorial Stadium due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
But as BYU pulled up to the stadium hours before kickoff on Labor Day, they were greeted by a strange sight: a small sea of Cougar fans awaiting the bus, but wearing masks and practicing the best social distancing they could so as to see their team unload and cheer them on as they entered a stadium where they were barred.
“There was a good number of them,” BYU coach Kalani Sitake recalled after his team’s rout. “I want them to know how much we love and appreciate them doing that. It means a lot to these players.”
Plenty has been adjusted in college football by the global pandemic, which has infected more than 6 million Americans and killed more than 189,000, according to the COVID-19 dashboard at Johns Hopkins University.
But things felt just a little more normal Monday night in Annapolis for players at BYU and Navy who worked all summer for the chance to play football.
Players are tested three times a week at BYU (1-0), a standard held by most Power Five schools, including in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Masks are required when social distancing can’t be practiced, and the Cougars are cognizant of wearing face coverings, neck gaiters, or face shields under their helmets during practices and games.
Coaches cover their faces on the sidelines to prevent the spray of aerosol droplets, and postgame media interviews are conducted entirely via video conference. Players are also encouraged to keep to themselves after practice, to isolate as much as possible in their apartments and stay away from parties like the one hosted last Friday by a group called Young/Dumb.
Many have even shifted all or most of their classes online.
And then there are the stands, where a stadium like the one that seats 34,000 in Annapolis sat mostly empty on Labor Day weekend, with nothing but echoes of play calling, on-field directions, and a booming public-address system to drown out the silence.
“Initially, it was pretty surreal. You walk out and it kind of hits you like, ‘Wow, this is for real,’” BYU offensive lineman Tristen Hoge said. “There’s no cheering. There’s no fans. There’s nothing. It’s pretty quiet.
“But after that first drive it really subsides and you realize at the end of the day it is just you and the boys.”
With eight games on the 2020 schedule and all but three of them at LaVell Edwards Stadium, the Cougars will likely have to find self-motivation that comes from outside the fan base.
No more running out to the roar of the crowd or silencing a hostile road environment with a big play. No more cheers as the a cappella BYU fight song rings out from the visitors’ corner of the stadium.
Just empty chairs and empty stadiums.
The Cougars’ motivation will have to come from within.
No problem, per their head coach.
“That’s something these guys have,” Sitake said. “I mentioned their attitude of appreciation and gratitude to be here. They feel really fortunate to play this game and they showed it.
“They had missed the little things. During this pandemic, there are the little details that you miss. They love being around each other. They value it now. We really want to make sure that we show our best every time and honor the 60 minutes that we’re given to play in this game.”
